Guitar Case Rack

ABSTRACT

This application is for guitar case rack or stand that can compactly hold a plurality of guitar cases, can roll, spin, or remain stationary. Case lids can be left open or closed, but the guitars remain substantially protected even with the lids left open. The case rack can transform into a dolly, and in this configuration, it stores extremely compactly.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This patent application is for a guitar case storage rack or stand. Itis novel because it is for cases and not directly for instruments andbecause it has a number of practical, new features. The inventionprovides a previously unheard of combination of security and access. Thegold standard for guitar storage is “case-kept.” In the past,“case-kept” also has meant inaccessible. However, the invention in thisapplication provides for “case-kept” security while, at the same time,providing for really more accessibility than with instruments that hangon walls or rest on stands. First, the lids of the cases are held closedor open at the users will. Second, the case rack rolls, spins, and staysimmobile at the will of the user. Third, the case rack transforms into adolly to be used for such things as heavy amplifiers, monitors, mixingboards, and the like. Finally, the case rack adjusts to accommodate awide range of cases.

2. Prior Art

Existing storage racks for guitars and similar instruments (for example,banjos, and bass guitars) hold instruments in a number of ways. Forexample, the instruments hang from their necks just below theirheadstocks or they rest on bottom edge of their lower bouts and leantheir backs against the device at the upper bout, or they lean theirnecks against the device. In contrast to storing guitars, cases such asguitar cases and other similar instrument cases are generally stored inclosets by rotating the case so that it rests against a closet wall.There are existing case racks that rely on rotating the cases.Alternatively, cases are tipped back to rest on a wall. This inventionis related to tipping a case back to lean against one wall and rotatingit clockwise at the same time to lean against another perpendicular wallas if in an inside corner. What will become clear is that this simplesolution only replicates the attitude of a case held by the invention;it does not address all the problems that are solved by this invention.For example, the lid binds when trying to open it while the case isleaning back against one wall and rotated against a perpendicular wall.There are other problems like the relative insecurity of simply usingthe walls for support and the immobility of the arrangement.

The essential features of this invention are unprecedented in themarket. This is a patent application for a case rack that simultaneouslyholds a case tipped backward and rotated to the right so that one caseor a plurality of cases are held such that the lids of the cases areeasily left closed or left open. When open, the guitars do not fall out.The ability to be held open or closed allows for very rapid access to aplurality, defined as one or more, of instruments while providingcase-kept protection of the instrument or instruments when they are notin use. By arranging a plurality of cases around a central axis so thateach tipped backwards and each is rotated to the right, the cases areheld in a very compact group. This is in contrast to spreading cases outon a floor or a table or leaning them against a wall.

The case rack can be mobile which increases the access to instruments inaddition to allowing the rack with cases to move from one place toanother. It can spin around its central axis and roll in any direction.Spinning is particularly useful, because an instrumentalist can remainin one place, sitting or standing, and have rapid access to any of thecases on the rack by spinning the rack. In order to reduce the tendencyfor the case rack to roll inadvertently, the case rack can be madeimmobile.

In addition, the case rack folds and rolls in its folded configuration.As a result, it can be said that the case rack transforms into a dolly.In order to reduce the tendency for the dolly to roll inadvertently, itcan be made immobile. The folding of the rack into the dollyconfiguration is accomplished by removing the cap from the rack and thenfolding the hinged struts into the shape of a cross. Finally, the cap isreattached below the folded supports. The fact that the case rack foldsalso means that the rack itself stores very compactly.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates multiple guitar cases being contained by theinvention in this patent application, a guitar case rack or stand. Thisshows the cases being tipped back as indicated by arrow A and beingrotated to the right, turned clockwise, as indicated by arrow B. Theupshot of a guitar case being tipped backward and simultaneously rotatedto the right is that if the lid of a case is left open, it stays open,and a guitar in the case does not fall out of the case. In addition, ifthe lid is left closed, it stays closed even if it is not locked orlatched.

FIG. 2 shows that when there is a plurality of guitar cases in a row, itis useful to rotate the cases approximately twenty four degrees off ofvertical to achieve maximum compactness. In FIG. 2, the cases arerotated twenty four degrees, A, so that the lower bout of one case fitsinto the waist of the case to its left.

The overall shape of the case rack is pyramidal. FIG. 3 shows the cap,A, the base, B, and the struts, C. The sides of the pyramid areapproximately 18 degrees off of vertical. So the sides are very steep.There is, of course, a trade-off that involves compactness and securityregarding the tendency of guitars to stay in their cases. We find that18 degrees provides ample security and remarkable compactness.

FIG. 4 shows the top of the cap and the setback of the struts. Letter Ashows the top of the cap which is surrounded by a lip intended tocontain small objects such as guitar picks, tuners, capos and the like.Letter B shows that the struts are set back from the base and cap sides.This setback allows the rack to accommodate cases with convex backs.

FIG. 5 shows the supports for the guitars. The letter A shows thesupports at the cap that are perpendicular to the sides of the cap. Theletter B shows a similar support on an extension that is used toaccommodate rectangular cases. All these supports are dowels that arefoam covered. The letter C shows supports that are parallel to the sidesof the cap but run perpendicular to the case necks. The end of thesupports labeled C have a rubber covering that would be like a cane tip.Note that the supports labeled C are not all necessarily the samelength. Length varies to accommodate differences in the width of cases.For example a short support is shown in the drawing on the side of thecase rack that is meant to accommodate a rectangular case. The letter Dshows supports for the lower bout of guitar cases and are perpendicularto the sides of the base.

FIG. 6 shows, in part, how the case rack is adapted to rectangularcases. First, there is an extension of the arm on the cap shown as A inFIG. 6. Second, there is a knob with a bolt that holds the extension tothe arm of the cap. This is B in FIG. 6. The arms for each side of thecase rack are labeled C in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows the adjustment slots for the supports. The slots arelabeled A. These slots are horizontal. A wood screw goes through such aslot on the side of the cap or the base and goes into a support. Awasher on the screw keeps the slot from being distorted by the head ofthe screw.

FIG. 8 shows the corner blocks for the base. These are indicated by theletter A. The corner blocks keep the base with 90 degree angles at thecorners. FIG. 9 shows the same corner blocks from below. Here they arealso labeled A.

FIG. 10 shows the folding apparatus. First, the hinges at the bottom ofthe struts are indicated by the letter A. Second, the cutouts along thestruts are indicated by the letter B. Note that the adjacent struts havecutouts on the opposite side of the struts. These cutouts allow thestruts to fold making a flat surface. This surface is of help when usingthe rack as a dolly. FIG. 11 shows the folding apparatus from below.First, the hinges, one for each strut, are indicated by the letter A.Second, the cutouts along the struts are indicated by the letter B.

FIG. 12 shows how it is possible for the case rack to roll and spin.Under each of the corner blocks in the base, there is a caster. Two ofthese casters are partially visible in FIG. 12 and labeled A. Of course,these casters can be removed or locked in order to make the case rackimmobile. FIG. 13 shows the casters from below the case rack. There arefour casters, one at each corner and mounted under the corner blocks,and one caster mounted under the cap top. Each of these 5 casters islabeled A in FIG. 13. The one caster mounted under the cap top comesinto use only when the case rack is transformed into a dolly.

FIG. 14 shows the folded case rack transformed into a dolly. The basicparts are the base, A, the struts, B, and the cap, C. The cap, C, wasremoved and placed inside the base, A. The struts fold by virtue of thehinges labeled D. The supports around the outside of the base wereremoved, turned inward, and reattached. These supports are are labeledE. If doorways are sufficiently wide, it is not necessary to alter theposition of the supports around the outside of the base. The supports onthe cap were not affected by the transformation to a dolly.

FIG. 15 shows the dolly configuration of the guitar case rack frombelow. The cap, A, is seen nesting inside the base, B. The struts, C,are seen folded. The five casters, D, are also shown.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

This invention is a guitar case rack. It is not a guitar rack. It canaccommodate the cases for a variety of instruments: guitars, bassguitars, banjos, banjitars and so on. It can also accommodate cases withvarious designs: ordinary hourglass-shaped cases, rectangular cases,cases with convex backs, and cases with concave neck backs. The goal isto allow easy access to instruments while, at the same time, providinggood security for instruments in their cases as well as compact storagefor the cases.

One aspect of access to the instruments is facilitated by holding thecases tipped back and simultaneously rotated to the right. Thiscombination allows the lids to be opened and to stay open and to keepguitars from falling out regardless of whether the cases have been leftopen. There are other guitar case racks that rely on rotating the casesto the right, but these racks require the cases to be removed from therack and put elsewhere, a table or the floor, to open the lid and to getaccess to the instrument. The combination of tipping the case back androtating it to the right allows the case to stay on the rack while theinstruments are accessed.

Another aspect of access is facilitated by the case rack being mobile.Being able to spin the rack is especially important as it allows theinstrumentalist to stay in one position and switch instruments quickly.This facilitates A-B comparisons of instruments in the studio andchanging instruments in performance settings. The ability of the rack toroll allows a plurality of guitars to easily be moved in their casesfrom one part of a studio to another, from one studio to another, fromthe stage to backstage, or from backstage to a vehicle.

The downsides of being able to spin and roll are obvious. First, itcreates a temptation for some people to use the case rackinappropriately, as a people mover. Of course, consumers must be warnedagainst misuse of this product. Second, the case rack could moveinadvertently because it is bumped or because it is placed on a floorthat is not flat. The consequences of moving inadvertently arepotentially serious: for example, a case rack could roll off a stage.However, the casters that allow the case rack to spin and roll can be ofthe locking type and thus can remove the most serious risks if the locksare used. Also, when immobility is desired, the casters can be removed.

Two distinct goals are achieved by making the case rack fold. First, thecase rack itself can be stored compactly. Second, it can be used as adolly. Suppose that a band is preparing to leave an event. First, theband or its crew rolls the rack filled with guitars in their cases totheir vehicle. They remove the guitars in their cases from the rack fortransit, fold the rack into its dolly configuration, and return to thestage to get other equipment such as amplifiers and drum kits. Aftergetting this equipment to the vehicle, the rack is stored in the vehicleand off they go: people, guitars, other equipment, and the case rack.Obviously, this process is reversed when they arrive at the venue. Inaddition, the fact that the case rack folds facilitates shipping with noassembly required.

SUMMARY

This invention is for a guitar case rack that holds a plurality ofguitar cases with the case lids open or closed. It spins, rolls, orstays in place at the desire of the user. It folds and still rollstransforming into a robust dolly. It can accommodate a wide variety ofcase designs.

1. A guitar case rack for a plurality of guitar cases comprising: (a)the means to simultaneously hold the case(s) tipped back and rotated tothe right, (b) holding guitars in their cases regardless of whether thecase lids are open or closed, (c) the means to allow the lids of thecases to open easily, in other words to not bind, and to either stayopen or stay closed, (d) the means to allow the rack to spin, roll, orremain fixed in place, and (e) the means to fold for storage or tooperate as a dolly.
 2. The guitar case rack in claim 1 whereas the caseis held by four supports comprising: (a) two supports that support thecase at the bottom of the lower bout, (b) each of the two bottomsupports being adjustable left and right to accommodate different sizedguitar cases or other instrument cases such as banjo cases, (c) twosupports that support the case at the neck of the case, (d) the supportat the right of the case neck adjustable left and right, (e) the supportat the left of the case approaching the neck approximately perpendicularto it, and (f) another embodiment in which a plurality of guitar casescan be held on each side, the support at left of the case neck just likethe other 3 supports and adjustable left and right.
 3. the guitar caserack in claim 1 that holds guitars in their cases regardless of whetherthe lid is open comprising: (a) a slope-sided structure, and (b) sidesurfaces of the cap and base as well as the struts being inclined atapproximately 18 degrees to lean the back or backs of the guitar case orcases against.
 4. the guitar case rack in claim 1 that holds guitar caselids open or closed without locking them comprising: (a) side surface orsurfaces inclined at least approximately 18 degrees to lean the back orbacks of the guitar case or cases against, (b) the means to hold thecase or cases rotated clockwise approximately 18 degrees by adjustingthe supports at the bottom of the lower bout and at the neck, and (c) inanother embodiment in which a plurality of guitar cases can be held onone side, the cases being rotated clockwise approximately 24 degrees toallow the adjacent cases on the same side of the rack to nest with theconvex lower bout of one case fitting into the space formed by theconcave waist of the case on its left.
 5. the guitar case rack in claim1 that holds guitar cases compactly comprising: (a) a four sidedpyramidal shaped structure with a cap, struts that support the cap, anda base, (b) the ability to hold a plurality of guitar cases on eachside, (c) the base and cap of the pyramidal shaped structure beingsquare or rectangular where rectangular shapes would accommodate inexcess of four cases, (d) the base and cap of the pyramidal shapedstructure being triangular, and (e) the increase in compactness allowedby rotating cases clockwise so that the convex lower bout of one casefits into the concave space of the waist of the case to the left and ona different side of the rack.
 6. the guitar case rack in claim 1 that iseither mobile or immobile comprising: (a) the use of casters to allowthe rack to spin and to roll, (b) the use of casters with brakes to keepthe rack from rolling inadvertently, (c) in another embodiment, the caserack is without casters to keep it immobile, and (d) a size that can becarried or rolled from room to room through standardinterior-residential doors such that it will roll through a 36″ doorwith the removal of a case or cases from only one side of the rack. 7.The guitar case rack in claim 1 with the ability to fold so as totransform into a dolly, or to take up little storage room itself, or toship economically comprising: (a) the ability to remove the cap bydetaching it from the top of the struts, (b) the hinged struts that holdup the cap folding across the top of the base, (c) the hinged strutshaving space to allow for folding across adjacent struts, (d) the hingedstruts mounted off center on the base so that opposite struts can fold,(e) the ability to relocate the cap to a position under the foldedstruts in dolly configuration, (f) a caster under the cap so that in thedolly configuration with the cap relocated to under the folded struts afifth center caster supports the loads on the dolly, and (g) casesupports that can be removed and reattached pointed inward to minimizeexterior dimensions.
 8. The guitar case rack in claim 1 that can handlerectangular cases, cases with concave back of necks, convex body backs,as well as standard shaped cases comprising: (a) an extension on theside right side of the neck area to handle the extra width ofrectangular cases, (b) a reduction in the length of the fixed supportfor the left side of the neck area of rectangular cases to handle theextra width of rectangular cases, (c) a small filler bump attached tothe side of the cap that causes cases with concave back of necks to betipped at the same angle as all the other cases, and (d) the strutsrecessed from the side surfaces of the cap and base to accommodate caseswith convex body backs.
 9. The guitar case rack in claim 1 having thetop of the cap having a recessed surface comprising: (a) a place on itsunderside to mount the fifth caster utilized in dolly mode, (b) the topsurface of the cap fitting into the sides of the cap in order to makethe sides square, and (c) sides of the cap forming a lip around thesurface providing convenient storage for small items such as picks caposand tuners.
 10. The guitar case rack in claim 1 having the base withcorner blocks, (a) to ensure that the base is square, and (b) to providea place on the underside of each of the corner blocks for a caster.